Crystal River current., 1887-04-02

II w
the children, but there were some to
swhom it was worse than useless to
give-the children Of idie, depraved
parents. who would strip every tidy
article OF apparel off their own and
their children's backs and pawn them
for few pence, to obtain what was
more than decency or natural affec-
tion to themedrink. 81.
- The teacher did d~her best even in
these cases. Now, Mary" she would
| say, fastening q warm petticoat on a
little girl, "tell your mother if you
come to school without this to-mor-
row that ! shall send you back. You
are to wear it every day." Occasion
ally the hint had the desired effect,
but not often"
| Returning to the school-room, Miss
Burton stood still for moment at
the open door. The children had tax
en- advantage OF her temporary alb
sence to vacate their places, and were
| amusing themselves in various ways.
And worse than all, at the other door,
leading from the main corridor, stood
the inspector, the man whom they all
| dreaded be.ause of his influence
in high quarters, and because of his
cold, calculating nature. which regard
ed the maintenance Of discipline as
the first law Of the universe. There
he he stood, his light, inquiring eyes
calmly taking i'll the whole scene.
Good morning, Miss Burton. am
afraid my call is rather inopportune.
May l ask, do the children often dis
port themselves in this manner?"
Miss Burton colored at the sarcas-
tic tone, but replied quietly:
'It is very unusual. had occasion
to take child awap who felt ill, and
am sorry to see that the others have
behaved badly dnring my absence"
"Hum! Perhaps it would have been
better if you had sent a monitor, in
stead of leaving the room yourself.
Kindly place the children; wish to
examine them. That is right. Now,
children, attention! Wait! Do 1 see
a boy asleep" -i
Miss Burton once more reused Tom
my Carter, at the same time endeav-
oring to explain soto voce to the In
spector the reason OF the little fellows
fatigue.
Eyes, yes," he said in his lofty but
polite voice; lone hears SO many of
these kinds of stories-generally ex-
cuses for idleness, you know" b.
"But. l believe, l am almost posi-
tive, this boys story is correct, for
his parents are both"
Pardon me, but should never get
through my duties if stayed to listen
to all the stories the children bring.
The way to do the work in place Of
this kind is to go straight on, regard
less OF obstacles, and, above every
thing, to discountenance chatter"
"But we are bound, in fairness, to
listen to any reasons the children may
have to account for their absence, late
arrival, etc." objected the teacher,
with a shade of warmth, "otherwise
should have punished a little girl just
now for crying because she had had no
iood since yesterday" -.-
II am really afraid, Miss Burton"
said Lr. Chilblud, impressively, shat
you are a little too sensitive for your
post. Think OF the cause in which
you are enrolled as one of the workers,
the education of the masses-a truly
noble work. Do not l pray you,
sharpen your feelings on the woes,
real or imaginary, OF Individual cas-
es."
"But," said the teacher, bravely.
at is with individual cases one must
deal. How cnn 1 compel q child to
work whose eyes are heavy and limbs
weary for want of rest and pro-
per nourishment? What can one ex-
pect from the exhausted systems of
these habits?"
Madam, you know the schedule. It
was arranged with aproper knowledge
OF what can be and is done by chill
dren under T."
Eyes, but it is right to expect 30
much from these ill-fed. ilLclothed,
and in many cases, diseased children?
Many of them bring their dinners to
school. You should see what is pro-
vided for them. l would venture to
assert that in this room there are
pretty well twenty children with the
same fare to-day-a thick slice OF
bread, with disgusting.looking COM
pound they call dripping, but which
more resembles cart grease. / have
frequently seen the dtlicate ones turn
almost with loathing from this-their
customary midday meal" H .
very sad, of course; but because q
child has not proper food is no argu-
ment why it should also remain ignor.
ant"
"Will you allow me to ask you one
question, Mr.. Chilblud? Would you
force your own children, who have ev-
cry advantage, to do what is required
by the School Board"
The Inspector looked at this daring
teacher much as one regards an impu-
dent menial who has the effrontery to
dictate to superior.
''The cases are not parallel, he said
icily, and then proceeded to his work
OF examination. This he conducted
in a manner one would have expected
from him. Going the most round
about way to ask the simplest ques-
tion, and thereby puzzling the little
brain needless, was Mr.. Chilbluq's
notion OF discovering how much the
children really knew. But, to do him